A system is disclosed to identify authorized EO devices and unauthorized EO devices within a scene. The system responds with a variety of response actions including sending warning messages of the unauthorized EO devices, recording images and position of the unauthorized EO device. The system can further be configured to hamper the operation of the unauthorized EO devices detected within the scene.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. A method of identifying unauthorized electro-optic devices and taking one or more response actions, the method comprising the steps of: interrogating an area with optical energy from at least one optical source; receiving a reflection from a first electro-optic device comprising a retro-reflection; storing optically detectable characteristics for a plurality of authorized electro-optic devices; comparing an optically detectable characteristic of the received reflection of the first electro-optic device to the stored optically detectable characteristics of authorized devices to determine if the first electro-optic device is an authorized device based on at least a detected retro-reflection; determining the first electro-optic device is an unauthorized device based on said comparing step and activating a tracking system that determines a point of origin or axis of travel of said received reflection, activating a surveillance system comprising an imager and orientation control elements that orients the imager towards the point of origin or traverses along the axis of travel, captures images of the unauthorized electro-optic device at the point of origin or images along the axis of travel, activating a messaging system to send a warning message to a plurality of recipients comprising a plurality of data elements including a warning identifier of unauthorized electro-optic device usage, images, date/time stamp of when the images were taken, and location of the point of origin or the axis of travel; hampering operation of the first electro-optic device comprising jamming or distorting recordings of the electro-optic device, wherein the step of hampering the operation of the first electro-optic device includes the step of sending out high power optical energy in a direction towards the first electro-optic device; and prior to sending out high power optical energy in a direction towards the first electro-optic device, broadcasting a signal which when received by an authorized electro-optic device causes the authorized electro-optic device to protect its sensors from the high power optical energy.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising hampering the operation of the first electro-optic device, the step of hampering the operation of the first electro-optic device includes the steps of: increasing a power level of the optical energy from the at least one optical source; directing the optical energy with the increased power at the first electro-optic device.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the comparing step includes the steps of: determining a Fourier transform of the received reflection from the first electro-optic device; and comparing at least a portion of the Fourier transform to the stored optically detectable characteristics to determine if the portion of the Fourier transform matches the stored optically detectable characteristics.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: providing and activating a mobile device network system or cell phone tower emulator configured to send a message to one or more mobile devices within an area that includes the point origin or the axis of travel to respond with a device registration number; triangulating on the one or more mobile devices to determine mobile device locations based on an electromagnetic signal from said one or more mobile devices; determining the mobile device locations correlated within a predetermined distance from the point of origin or the axis of travel; and saving the device registration number associated with correlated mobile device location or locations.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising orienting an identifier system comprising an infrared (IR) spotlight or designator device on the point of origin or along the axis of travel and using an identifier viewing system to view the spotlight or designator device.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of hampering the operation of the first electro-optic device includes a step of blinding the first electro-optic device with optical energy.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of hampering the operation of the first electro-optic device includes the step of jamming an operation of the first electro-optic device with optical energy.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of hampering the operation of the first electro-optic device includes the step of permanently disabling an operation of the first electro-optic device with optical energy.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of hampering the operation of the first electro-optic device includes the step of destroying the first electro-optic device with optical energy.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the authorized electro-optic device shields its sensors from the high power optical energy.
11. An apparatus for interacting with an electro-optic device in an environment, the apparatus comprising: at least one optical source emitting optical energy into the environment towards the electro-optic device; at least one detector detecting the optical energy retro-reflected from the electro-optic device; a tracking system; a surveillance system comprising an imager and an orientation control system for orienting the imager; an imaging system; a messaging system; and a controller operatively coupled to the at least one optical source and the at least one detector, the controller analyzing the detected optical energy to determine whether the electro-optic device is an authorized electro-optic device or an unauthorized device, the controller is further configured to activates the tracking system that determines a point of origin or axis of travel of the optical energy retro-reflected from the electro-optic device determined to be an unauthorized device, activating the surveillance system that orients towards the point of origin or traverses along the axis of travel based on the tracking system outputs, captures images of the unauthorized electro-optic device at the point of origin or images along the axis of travel using the surveillance system's imager, activating the messaging system to send a warning message to a plurality of recipients comprising a plurality of data elements including the images, date/time stamp of when the images were taken, and location of the point of origin or the axis of travel; wherein the controller is configured to send a detection signal to the at least one optical source after detecting an unauthorized device, wherein the at least one optical source is configured to increase a power level of the optical energy after receiving the detection signal to hamper the operation of the unauthorized device; wherein the warning message further comprises a plurality of instructions directing an authorized electro-optic device to shield its sensors from the optical energy.
12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein if the electro-optic device is an unauthorized electro-optic device the controller causes the at least one optical source to emit optical energy which hampers an operation of the electro-optic device.
13. The apparatus of claim 11 , further including a mobile device identification system comprising a mobile device network system or cell tower emulator or configured with a control system for activating the mobile device network system or the cell phone tower emulator and sending a message to one or more mobile devices including within an area that includes the point origin or the axis of travel to respond with a device registration number, triangulating on the one or more mobile devices to determine mobile device locations, determining of the mobile device locations correlate within a predetermined distance from the point of origin or the axis of travel, and saving the device registration number associated with correlated mobile device location or locations.
14. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein if the electro-optic device is an unauthorized electro-optic device the controller causes a high power optical source to emit optical energy which hampers an operation of the electro-optic device.
15. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein said controller is further configured for orienting an identifier system comprising an infrared (IR) spotlight or designator device on the point of origin or along the axis of travel, said apparatus further comprising an identifier viewing system configured to display the spotlight or designator device.
16. An apparatus of claim 15 wherein said identifier viewing system comprises a near IR vision device.
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August 4, 2015
December 29, 2020
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